Method and apparatus associated with stimulation treatments for wells

Abstract

A method and apparatus associated with the production of hydrocarbons. In one embodiment, the method describes connecting multiple wells to a stimulation fluid pumping system via a pumping system manifold. The pumping system manifold is adjusted to provide a first well flow path from the stimulation fluid pumping system to a first well. Then, a first stimulation treatment is pumped into the first well. Concurrently with the pumping of the first stimulation treatment, a second well is prepared for a second stimulation treatment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method associated with the production of hydrocarbons comprising:
 providing a pumping system manifold for connecting a stimulation fluid pumping system simultaneously to at least two wells, the pumping system manifold being selectively switchable between directing a pressurized hydraulic stimulation treatment to one of the at least two wells and isolating the pressurized hydraulic stimulation treatment from the other of the at least two wells; 
 connecting the at least two wells to the pumping system manifold, each of the at least two wells including a wellbore conduit for receiving the pressurized hydraulic stimulation treatment from the pumping system manifold; 
 providing wellbore conduit mechanical access equipment on each of the at least two wells, the wellbore conduit mechanical access equipment comprising equipment for at least one of a wireline system, a coiled tubing system, a wireline perforating system, an autonomous perforating system, a plug-setting system, and a stimulation fluid flowback system, 
 pumping a first stimulation treatment through the pumping system manifold and into a first well of the at least two wells while selectively isolating a second well of the at least two wells from fluid pressure of the first stimulation treatment, the first stimulation treatment comprising at least one of a hydraulic proppant fracture treatment, an acid fracture treatment, a matrix acid treatment, and combinations thereof; and 
 preparing the second well of the at least two wells for a second stimulation treatment, the step of preparing the second well performed by a method comprising using the provided wellbore conduit mechanical access equipment while concurrently, pumping the first stimulation treatment, wherein preparing the second well comprises performing at least one of a wireline operation, coiled tubing operation, wireline perforating operation, autonomous perforating operation, plug-setting operation, and stimulation fluid flowback operation, within the wellbore conduit of the second well. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting the pumping system manifold to provide a first well flow path from the stimulation fluid pumping system to the first well, wherein adjusting the pumping system manifold comprises configuring at least one of a plurality of valves to provide the first well flow path and configuring at least one of the plurality of valves to isolate the first stimulation treatment from entering the second well. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising adjusting the pumping system manifold to provide a second well flow path from the stimulation fluid pumping system to the second well while isolating the first well from the second well and the stimulation fluid pumping system. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  further comprising pumping the second stimulation treatment in the second well while performing at least one operation on the first well different than pumping stimulation treatment. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first stimulation treatment comprises at least one treatment selected from just-in-time perforating, annular coiled-tubing, coiled-tubing, limited-entry, ball-sealer, modified limited entry, induced stress diverted, one or more single-stage stimulation treatments separated by isolation elements, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first stimulation treatment comprises at least one treatment selected from a multi-zone just-in-time perforating hydraulic proppant fracture stimulation treatment, a multi-zone annular coiled tubing fracture stimulation treatment, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising producing hydrocarbons from the at least two wells. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising drilling the at least two wells from a single surface pad. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least two wells are located on a single surface pad. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least two wells are in proximity to each other on one or more surface pads or platforms. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  further comprising installing production tubing into at least one of the at least two wells. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  further comprising performing at least one safety operation concurrently with pumping the first stimulation treatment and preparing the second well, wherein the safety operation is adapted to isolate the pumping of the first stimulation treatment and the preparing of the second well from each other. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore conduit mechanical access equipment further comprises at least one of a perforating gun, a pack-off device, a lubricator device, a coil tubing injector head, tool retaining and releasing equipment, a stripping head, stimulation fluid flowback control equipment, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising isolating the provided wellbore conduit mechanical access equipment on the first well from the fluid pressure of the first stimulation treatment during the first stimulation treatment. 
     
     
       15. A method associated with the production of hydrocarbons comprising:
 connecting a first well and a second well to a first stimulation fluid pumping system via a first pumping system manifold; 
 connecting a third well and a fourth well to a second stimulation fluid pumping system via a second pumping system manifold; 
 wherein the third and fourth wells are hydraulically isolated from the pressure and energy created by the first stimulation pumping system; 
 adjusting the first pumping system manifold to provide a first stimulation treatment to the first well and to hydraulically isolate the second well from the pressure and energy created by the first stimulation treatment for other operations; 
 adjusting the second pumping system manifold to provide a second stimulation treatment to the third well and to hydraulically isolate the fourth well from the pressure and energy created by the second stimulation treatment; 
 pumping the first stimulation treatment into the first well, the first stimulation treatment comprising at least one of a hydraulic proppant fracture treatment, an acid fracture treatment, a matrix acid treatment, and combinations thereof; 
 pumping the second stimulation treatment into the third well concurrently with the pumping of the first stimulation treatment; and 
 preparing at least one of the second well and the fourth well for a stimulation treatment, wherein preparing the second well occurs concurrently with the pumping of at least one of the first well stimulation treatment and a third well stimulation treatment; 
 wherein preparing the at least one of the second well and the fourth well comprises performing at least one of a wireline operation, coiled tubing operation, wireline perforating operation, autonomous perforating operation, plug-setting operation, and stimulation fluid flowback operation. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 preparing the second well for the third stimulation treatment concurrently with the pumping of the first stimulation treatment; and 
 preparing the fourth well for a fourth stimulation treatment concurrently with the pumping of the second stimulation treatment. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein preparing the second well for the third stimulation treatment comprises disposing at least one tool in the second well, wherein the at least one tool is selected from a just-in-time perforating tool, an annular coiled tubing based tool, a limited-entry perforating tool, a ball-sealer tool, an isolation element, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the first stimulation treatment and the second stimulation treatment comprises at least one treatment selected from a multi-zone just-in-time perforating hydraulic proppant fracture stimulation treatment, a multi-zone annular coiled tubing fracture stimulation treatment, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15  further comprising producing hydrocarbons from the first well once the first stimulation treatment is completed. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15  further comprising drilling the first well, second well, third well and fourth well from a single surface pad. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 15  wherein the first well, second well, third well and fourth well are located on a single surface pad. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 15  wherein the first well, second well, third well and fourth well are in proximity to each other on one or more surface pads or platforms. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 15  comprising installing production tubing into at least one of the first well, the second well, the third well, and the fourth well. 
     
     
       24. A method of stimulating multiple wells, the method comprising:
 connecting a plurality of wells to a stimulation fluid pumping system via a pumping system manifold; 
 pumping a first stimulation treatment fluid into a first well through a first fluid line connected to the pumping system manifold; and 
 simultaneously pumping a second stimulation treatment fluid into a second well through a second line connected to the pumping system manifold; 
 wherein the second well is hydraulically isolated from the first stimulation treatment. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24  wherein the first well and the second well are on one or more surface pads or platforms. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 24  wherein at least one of the first stimulation treatment fluid and the second stimulation treatment fluid is selected for use in a stimulation treatment selected from one or more of a hydraulic proppant fracture treatment, an acid fracture treatment, and a matrix acid treatment. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 24  further comprising producing hydrocarbons from the plurality of wells. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 24  further comprising drilling the plurality of wells from a single surface pad. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 24  wherein the plurality of wells are located on a single surface pad. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 24  wherein the plurality of wells are in proximity to each other on one or more surface pads or platforms. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 24  further comprising installing production tubing into at least one of the plurality of wells.